Money Q&A with Rob Lowe

Rob Lowe’s new memoir, “Stories I Only Tell My Friends,” is most impressive for its account of Lowe’s prestigious lifelong cadre of friends. Over the course of a career that has taken him from the Brat Pack to “The West Wing,” and now to one of the funniest shows on television, NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” Lowe has partied with stars from Andy Warhol to Charlie Sheen, and his memoir spares none of the dirty details.

Rob Lowe

How did you support yourself back in your struggling actor days?

Oh, gosh. I was fired from every job I ever had other than anything in the entertainment industry. When you can’t keep a job as a busboy at the Nantucket Light in Malibu, (Calif.), or as the projectionist at the Malibu Cinema, you know you have some issues.

At the Malibu Cinema, I threaded the projector backward. At Nantucket Light, they didn’t like that I was eating mud pie out of the walk-in freezer. So I had some issues in the real job market.

Rob Lowe’s new memoir, “Stories I Only Tell My Friends,” is most impressive for its account of Lowe’s prestigious lifelong cadre of friends. Over the course of a career that has taken him from the Brat Pack to “The West Wing,” and now to one of the funniest shows on television, NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” Lowe has partied with stars from Andy Warhol to Charlie Sheen, and his memoir spares none of the dirty details.

Rob Lowe

Photo by PR Photos

Once you became successful, what were some of the things you started to splurge on?

I wanted to have the most excitement I could, so a lot of it was travel and also music. If there was any great music around, I wanted to go to those places and see those bands. If you gave any 22-year-old guy a nice bank account, what would they do? That’s probably what I did. Then, I also explored my passions, public service and things like that. I was very involved in political causes — campaigning, being on the road, meeting people and being an advocate.Where did you travel?
I spent a lot of time in Europe. I loved Paris, Italy, London. I love the water, so Hawaii.

Rob Lowe’s new memoir, “Stories I Only Tell My Friends,” is most impressive for its account of Lowe’s prestigious lifelong cadre of friends. Over the course of a career that has taken him from the Brat Pack to “The West Wing,” and now to one of the funniest shows on television, NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” Lowe has partied with stars from Andy Warhol to Charlie Sheen, and his memoir spares none of the dirty details.

Rob Lowe

Photo by PR Photos

Are there still a lot of things you splurge on, or are you more frugal?

I’m willing to spend money to create memories for my kids — and our time together. If it’s a trip or taking advantage of an opportunity, I will do whatever it takes.

In terms of actual things, I’m not one of those guys who collects Vipers or Shelby Cobras, or has a rare book collection. It’s more about how am I living my life on a daily basis in terms of ease and fun.

Rob Lowe’s new memoir, “Stories I Only Tell My Friends,” is most impressive for its account of Lowe’s prestigious lifelong cadre of friends. Over the course of a career that has taken him from the Brat Pack to “The West Wing,” and now to one of the funniest shows on television, NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” Lowe has partied with stars from Andy Warhol to Charlie Sheen, and his memoir spares none of the dirty details.

Rob Lowe

Photo by PR Photos

When you talk about memories with your family, can you give us an example?

I took my youngest son, John Owen, to Wimbledon, which is an amazing place. It’s something we’ll never forget, and lo and behold, he decided he wanted to play tennis.

He tried out for his high school tennis team when we came back, and now he’s undefeated as a JV player. I think a little bit of that was going to Wimbledon, and that’s a memory he and I will share together. That to me is better than having an interesting car.

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